APRIL 7, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH

What administrators, coaches, parents and fans are reading. #whyD3
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🛌  Time to Rise and Shine. Make it a great Monday

Headlines
Could House v. NCAA Be Settled Today?
Remembering Ced Dempsey
Curry GK Transferring to DI
DIII Week Begins Today
Women’s Golf Regional Rankings
Plays of the Weekend

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TOP STORY
1. House v. NCAA Hearing Set: Turning Point for College Sports Amateurism?

by Amanda Christovich, Front Office Sports

“On Monday night, Florida and Houston will face off in the NCAA men’s national championship game. Several hours earlier, in a courtroom in Oakland, Northern District of California judge Claudia Wilken will preside over an approval for the proposed House v. NCAA settlement - which would allow schools to pay players for the first time in NCAA history.

The hearing is slated to span several hours and conclude shortly before tipoff in San Antonio. It will feature testimony from some of the dozens of objectors to the proposed agreement, from lawyers to athletes like LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, who have submitted concerns over the expected legality of new NIL restrictions and the revenue-sharing cap, gender disparities in payments, and negative impact of roster limits.

Wilken is not expected to issue a decision from the bench Monday afternoon, NCAA president Charlie Baker told reporters Saturday before the Final Four - but he hopes to glean insight into the way Wilken is leaning. If approved, the settlement would take effect next season and could have major implications for the future of athletic department composition and basketball-only schools.”

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» What’s At Stake. “The settlement, between a group of D-I athletes and the NCAA and power conferences for three lawsuits filed over the past few years, would offer $2.8 billion in damages to players who couldn’t earn NIL money before the NCAA changed its rules in 2021. It would also allow schools to share a portion of their athletic department revenue (earmarked as NIL earnings from appearing on broadcasts) with all players, beginning at $20.5 million this upcoming year.”

» Yes, But. “The yearslong saga may not be over once Wilken reaches a decision, however. Baruch College Zicklin School of Business professor Marc Edelman says that “with the critical difference that the players in House are not unionized,” the proposed settlement harkens back to the White v. NFL case, in which a settlement was ultimately appealed. “Here, an appeal would be to the 9th Circuit and it is likely if approved by Judge Wilken, some from one, if not both sides, will appeal - perhaps harping on the imposition of a salary cap and other restraints without collective bargaining.”

» Go Deeper

APPRECIATION
2. Remembering Ced Dempsey

Associated Press

“Cedric Dempsey, the former NCAA president who helped turn Arizona into a national power as athletic director before leading the national organization through key years of transition and growth, died Saturday in San Diego, the NCAA said. He was 92.

Dempsey was revered as an administrator on campus. His nine-year tenure as the NCAA's leader included moving its headquarters and significant fiscal growth for the organization, including landmark television deals worth billions.”

» What They’re Saying. “"Ced was instrumental in shaping the NCAA as it moved into the new century, overseeing a restructuring of the organization, and strengthening the foundation of college sports for years that followed his tenure," current NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement released by the organization.”

» Of Note. “His most enduring legacy may be the role he played in creating television deals with ESPN and CBS that brought in $6.2 billion over an 11-year span.”

» DYK? “Dempsey grew up in Equality, Illinois, and went on to play football, basketball and baseball at Albion College in Michigan. From 1959-62, he served as the men's basketball and cross country coach at his alma mater before stepping back in 1963 to become an assistant basketball coach. In 1965, he started a 46-year career in administration by becoming an associate athletic director also at Albion.”

» Continue Reading

ICE HOCKEY
3. Curry’s Soderwall Transferring to DI

by Will Gilson, Currier Times

“What started as speculation earlier in the week on DIII hockey social media posts, became official, as The Currier Times confirmed that men’s hockey goalie, sophomore Shane Soderwall, is moving on to D1 Clarkson University.

Soderwall told The Currier Times that Division I hockey has been a goal.

“It has always been my dream to play division one hockey, so to receive interest means the world to me,” Soderwall said. “I know Coach [Peter] Roundy and the staff will not have an issue finding the appropriate captains and leadership group for next season.”

» By The Numbers. Soderwall posted a 24-4 record in between the pipes and was third in DIII in save percentage (94.5%) and goals-against average (1.47) with five shutouts.

» Why It Matters. “Soderwall has won just about every accolade in the book, including the Sid Watson award as the best player in DIII hockey and most recently, the New England Hockey Association Player of the Year.”

» Keep Reading

NEWS
4. DIII Week

“Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with a Division III institution to observe and celebrate the impact athletics and student-athletes have on campus and in the surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct an outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment, athletic experience, or leadership/community service/campus involvement. Division III Week is a strategic initiative that achieves its desired impact from a unity of effort. It harnesses everyone working toward the same goal at the same time to build a greater awareness and understanding of Division III athletics.

The event is part of Division III’s Identity Initiative, which was introduced in 2010 to sharpen the division’s identity and enable schools, conferences, and student-athletes to consistently explain why they prefer to compete in Division III. The initiative is guided by a strategic-positioning platform, describing Division III as a place where student-athletes can “follow your passions and develop your potential,” through an approach that combines rigorous academics, competitive athletics and an opportunity to pursue other interests.”

» Who Should Get Involved? “The true essence of Division III athletics is the full integration of our student-athletes into the campus culture. Therefore, in addition to primary participation and organization by the athletics administration and student-athletes, Division III Week could involve the president, faculty, student body, admissions, student affairs or alumni.”

» Learn More

GOLF (W)
5. Regional Rankings

The first regional rankings are out for the 2025 NCAA Division III women’s golf season with 35 schools listed in the five geographical regions.

A reminder … the schools are listed in alphabetical order for the first ranking only.

» Regional Rankings

NEWS YOU CAN USE
6. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

💵 Fundraising. Washington College raised $232,694 from 1,345 donors during its “Shore Strong” campaign. Wisconsin-River Falls received 488 donations totaling $121,671.17 during its Athletics Giving Days.

📹️ Streaming. “FloSports announced the successful closing of its Series D funding round, led by Dream Sports, a leading sports technology company based in India. Dream Sports joins existing investors Causeway Media Partners LP, Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., DCM Ventures, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, and Fertitta Capital. This round brings total funding raised by FloSports to more than $100 million to date.”

🗞️ News. “It could take more than two years to conclude a proposed merger between Kean University and New Jersey City University, campus officials said in a newly-released timeline.”

TRANSACTIONS
7. Comings and Goings

BETHEL - Zach Filzen stepped down as head men’s basketball coach
GUILFORD - Chris Miron named head volleyball coach
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY - Matt Griswold announced his retirement as head cross counmtry/track and field coach at the end of June
MAINE MARITIME - Jessany Petricevic named head women’s volleyball coach
MOUNT SAINT MARY - Steve Sosler named head golf coach
NORTH CENTRAL (Minn.) - Madi Hecox named interim head softball coach
PITT-GREENSBURG - Holly Saville named head women’s volleyball coach
PLATTSBURGH STATE - Jordyn Naylon resigned as head cross country/track and field coach

HIGHLIGHTS
8. Plays of the Weekend

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